Starter and pound section



May 5, QL Q, SMHTH TARTER AND POUND SECTION Filed June 7. 1928 PatentedMay 5, 193

UNITED stares OWEN SMITH, OF MONROE, VIRGINIA STARTER AND POUND SECTIONApplication :filed June 7,

The invention relates to a comb foundation for beeliives, and moreespecially to what may be termed a wax starter and pound sections forbeehives.

The invention comprises a series of frames of standard size and a waXstarter or foundation, these being of a particular' construction, sothat the latter can be positioned in the frames without the use ofspecial tools or Without requiring any particular skill on the part ofthe user, the frames being held edge to edge in alignment with eachother in the super of the beehive when the starter or foundation isplaced in said frames, whereby they will constitute a unit Within thebeehive.

An aim of the present invention is the provision of a starter orfoundation, wherein the same can be made in a single piece so shaped toengage in one or a series of frames or pound sections, whereby theseries of connected sections can be easily and conveniently placed inthe super of the beehive, while the engagement of the starter orfoundation is carried forth without the use of any special tools orother implements and avoids a messy, slow or tedious operation on thepart of the user, as the said starter can be dropped into suitable slotsformed in the upper ends of the respective frames and on the filling ofthe latter with honey the same can be removed as a. unit and the framesseparated in their respective pound sections for the trade.

Another aim of the present invention is the provision of a frameconstituting a` pound comb section, wherein its construction is of thesimplest form, avoiding special make up to accommodate the starter orfoundation, which can be readily placed therein,

and is in the form of a wax strip stamped or cut out in a shape wherebyit will effect a series of foundations or starter for a plurality offrames, these being united in a row, so that the latter can be easilyand quickly placed in the super of the beehive.

A further aim of the present invention is the provision of a starter orfoundation, wherein the requirement of fastening mediums or the use ofspecial tools or imple- Serial No. 283,531.

ments is totally avoided, yet the starters or foundations will be commonto the respec-V tive frames of a united row of the same and firmly heldin proper position therein.

A still further aim of the present invention is the provision of astarter or foundation, wherein by reason of its particular design orshape the Acost of manufacture is reduced to a minimum, and the fittingof the same into the frames in series is accomplished with ease anddispatch, thereby assuring economy in beehive culture.

With the foregoing aims or objects and others in View which will appearas the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement after fully described and moreparticularly defined by the appended claims,

and the preferred embodiment of the invention being illustrated in theaccompanying drawing. It is to be understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come withinthe scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure l, is an elevation of the comb frames or pound sections andstarter or foundation constructed and assembled in accordance with theinvention, several of the frames and foundation being partly broken awayfor the sake of clearness in showing assemblage.

Figure 2, is a top plan view of the frames or sections and thefoundation therein.

Figure 3, is a fragmentary elevation of a slightly modified form ofstarter or founda tion, the modification shape. Y

Figure t, is a View similar to Figure 8,

showing a slight further modification.

being only in the Figure 5is a perspective view of one of the frames orpound sections constructed in conformity with the invention.

Similar reference characters indicate cor-i responding parts throughoutthe several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally each frame orpound section which is of standard size, preferably of partssubstantially as herein-` having equi-length ends 10, bottom 11, and top12, these being joined together in any suitable manner to render theframe a unit in itself. The frame A, in its walled make up constitutesno part of the present invention.

Each frame A, in its top 12 and extended partially into the ends 10,thereof has formed therein a slot 13, which is of the required width toaccommodate a starter or foundation hereinafter fully described.

The starter or foundation B, in this man ner generally designated, is inthe form of a blank 14, made from wax cut or stamped to provide anunbroken upper area or edge, 15, which in its depth is preferablycorresponding to the extent of the continuations 16, of the slot 13, inthe ends 10, of the frames. Protruded or extended from this unbrokenarea or edge 15, are equiangular planes 17, producing alternatingequiangular recisions 18, so that the crotch 19, of each of the latterwill bridge or saddle end walls 10, when adjacent to each other in thearranging of a series of frames in end abutting relation to one anotheras illustrated in Fio'ure 1, of' the drawing, and the starter orfioundation B, has been fully inserted in the slots 1B, in therespective frames so arranged.

In carrying out the invention the blank 14, of wax is rolled or pressedinto series of super-posed rudimentary cells 2O and 21, in alignedgroups with opposite sides or faces alike, this formation being commonand well known, yet it being understood that these may be altered orvaried suitable to the requirements of the bees and the working andstoring of honey when used in the supers of aV beehive. This waxstructure forms the foundation or starter for the bees to build thehoney cells upon because they start by depositing upon the faces of saidcells, which determine for their work the size of the cells, whetherthey be worker cells or drone cells, and with the bee instinct, honey isdeposited according to selection.

On inserting the starter or foundation in the slots 13, when the seriesof frames are brought together as hereinbefore stated, and

J the unbroken area or edge of said starter or foundation is buried inthe slots, these frames and starter or foundation will have been joinedtogether as a unit for the easy and convenient placing of the same assuch J within the super of a beehive. The starter or foundation byreason of its construction and assemblage with the frames enablesunitary handling and when the frames have been filled with honey thesecan be separated with dispatch. The use of special tools for the placingof the starter or foundation in the frames is entirely eliminated, andfasteners for said starter or foundation dispensed with.

In Figure 3, the foundation or starter C,

has its blank 22, formed with half circular or rounded planes 23, andintermediate notches 24, in contra-distinction to the planes andrecisions shown in Figure 1, of the drawing, and this being the extentof the modification in Figure 3, of the same.

In Figure 4, of the drawing, there is shown another modification ofstarter or foundation, wherein the planes 25 are rectangular in formwith intervening nitches 26, therebetween, the corners 27, of the planesbeing rounded.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a series of honey comb frames, each having a slotlocated medially of and extending transversely through the top and adistance into the ends of the same, and a foundation formed from a blankhaving an unbroken area and an irregular edge constituting alternateplanes and recisions, the unbroken area being insertable in the slotswhen the frames are arranged in a row in end abutting relation to eachother with the planes protruded into the respective frames, whereby thelatter and the foundation will be joined as a unit.

2. The combination with a` series of frames having slotted tops, of afoundation con prising a wax blank having opposite faces distorted topresent cells and shaped to provide an unbroken edge and protrudingplanes and intermediate recisions, said blank being insertable in theslots in the frames when in abutting end to end relation to each otherto have the planes extend into said frames and the recisions saddlingthe ends thereof to effect a union between the frames and foundation.

3. A comb foundation of wax formed from a single piece having anunbroken upper portion to be accommodated within theA tops of adjacentcomb frames and supported only from the ends of the latter and alsoprovided with a depending plane to extend into said frame.

In testimoney whereof I affix my signa ture.

OWEN SMITH.

